Roberto De Vicenzo

Roberto De Vicenzo

Born: April 14, 1923

Birthplace: Buenos Aires, Argentina

Turned Pro: 1938

It is more than a little unfair that Robert De Vicenzo is better known for a famous mistake then he is for a golf career that produced more than 200 wins, a top ten performance in all four Major championships and the 1967 Open Championship.

Born in Argentina, De Vicenzo worked as a caddie growing up. He turned professional while he was a teenager and in 1942, he captured his first win on the Argentine Tour. He would win at least one tournament for a dozen straight years, and more than 120 tournaments in all. In 1947, he won ten times.

De Vicenzo began branching out playing in Europe and America. He would finish his career with 8 wins on the PGA Tour and 9 titles on the European Tour.

In 1967, De Vicenzo captured the Open Championship which was hosted that year at Royal Liverpool. Going into the final round, he led by strokes over Gary Player and three shots over Jack Nicklaus. De Vicenzo fired a two-under par 70 in the final round to win by two shots over Nicklaus.

The next April, De Vicenzo played himself into contention at Augusta National. In the final round on Sunday afternoon, De Vicenzo found himself preparing for a playoff. After 72 holes, his score was tied with Bob Goalby and the two would meet the next day for an 18-hole playoff.

Unfortunately, De Vicenzo’s playing partner recorded a score of 4 on the 17th hole, when in fact Roberto had made a birdie 3. De Vicenzo hastily signed the incorrect score card and the rules of golf dictated that he had to take the score written down on his card. He missed the playoff by one shot.

De Vicenzo would go onto play on the Senior Tour after turning 50. In 1980, he won the Senior U.S. Open Championship. Roberto was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1989.